Hepatitis C is a blood-borne viral disease which can cause liver inflammation, fibrosis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. The hepatitis C virus (HCV) is spread by blood-to-blood contact with an infected person's blood. Many people with HCV infection have no symptoms and are unaware of the need to seek treatment. Hepatitis C infects an estimated 150-200 million people worldwide.

OT - West Niles Virus

The most important way people become infected is through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Who has the highest risk of becoming infected?

People over age 50 and people who have ever received a solid organ transplant are more likely to develop serious symptoms. They should take special care to avoid mosquito bites.

Protect Yourself:

When outdoors, use insect repellent containing an EPA-registered active ingredient, such as DEET.

Many mosquitoes are most active at dusk and dawn. Be sure to use insect repellent and wear long sleeves and pants at these times or consider staying indoors during these hours.

Make sure you have good screens on your windows and doors to keep mosquitoes out.

Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets and barrels. Change the water in pet dishes and replace the water in bird baths weekly. Drill holes in tire swings so water drains out. Keep children's wading pools empty and on their sides when they aren't being used.

What happens if I get infected?

Most people who get infected with West Nile virus do not have any symptoms. There is no specific treatment for West Nile virus infection. There is no vaccine available.

Some people who become infected have the following symptoms:

Fever

Headache

body aches

Nausea

Vomiting

swollen lymph glands

skin rash on the chest, stomach and back

Symptoms can last for a few days to several weeks. Call your health care provider if you have questions about your symptoms.

A small number of people (about 1 in 150) who get infected with West Nile virus develop sever disease, called West Nile encephalitis or West Nile meningitis (inflammation of the brain or the area around the brain). Symptoms of severe illness include headache, high fever, stiff neck, mental confusion, muscle weakness, tremors, convulsions, coma and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent. See your health care provider if you develop these symptoms.

For more information visit www.cdc.gov/westnile or call 800-CDC-INFO (232-4636)

Replies

Yes, here on the eastern seaboard its horrible....seems like every mosquito they catch at the research center has west nile...after all the rain, my backyard is infested with them. I use that Off little machine you hook to your belt and it helps an awful lot! Using those deet products on your skin is not good...if you do use them rub on the clothes....remember skin is an organ and it absorbs toxins...I want everybody to have a wonderful end of summer without adding this stupid virus to the mix.

Ive been hopping around looking fo a forum for support for my hep c. This one looks pretty unused, too. Im in my second month of harvoni treatment...right now waiting for my meds to show up. I wonder how much damage i have..they told me i have cirrhosis. I havent had a drink of alcohol since 1979, but before that I swam in it! So ive pribably had hep c since the early 70s. Ive been...

this site is completely different and not very user friendly. It used to be very interactive and easy to locate different members and topics. Images could be posted and you could really obtain an insight to other members experiences. Anyway, I am hepC 1a viral load 5 million and just been prescribed Harvoni. I wanted to share treatment notes, but this site is hard to understand. It...

I've tried to quit smoking many a time, but I have not had any luck no matter what I have tried.Friday I got a prescription for Chantix and I'm supposed to start it today (Aug. 14) and still smoke for a week and next Monday is supposed to be my "quit" day (Aug. 21 {my birthday & the day of the full solar eclipse}). Had anyone tried this?Has it worked for you?

First I lose my husband, then my 26-year-old son decides to spend his birthday with his girlfriend and HER family. When I mentioned this would be my first time not spending a birthday with my son, the girlfriend said, "Oh, why, do you want to go?" (to the restaurant) Naturally, I didn't go, #1 - no husband to escort me, I dreaded walking in alone, and #2 - my son didn't invite me. I cried...

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